Card-indexing file and locking mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

H.-HAMIL TON. CARD INDEXING FILE AND LOCKING MEGHANISMW No. 606,286. Patented June 28, 1898 (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

H. HAMILTON. CARD INDEXING FILE AND LOOKING MEGHANISM. H No. 606,286. Patented June28, 1898.

' mmwmw UNITED STATES HUGH HAMILTON, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

CARD-INDEXING FILE AND LOCKING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 606,286, dated June 28, 1898.

Application filed December 21,1897. $erial No. 662,845. (No model.)

and Locking Mechanism Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

- My invention relates to a new and useful.

improvement in card-indexing files and locking mechanism therefor, and has for its 010- ject to provide an improved device for looking cards in a tray, andyfurther, toprovide' an improved angle block or rest for the cards; and a still further object of my invention is to provide an improved method of locking the turning or looking rods, thereby preventing them from being tampered with by unauthorized persons.

lVith these and other incidental ends in View this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and then designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective of a file-tray embodying my improvements; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section thereof, showing the lockingrods and angle-blocks in their proper relation to the tray; Fig. 3, a section at the line :20 cc of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, an elevation of one of the cards, showing the locking-rods in position for securing said cards; Fig. 5, an enlarged cross-section at the line y y, of Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a broken-away view similar to Fig. 5, showing the retaining-pawl in its tripped position corresponding to the closed position of the tray; Fig. 7, a plan of the locking-rod; and Fig. 8, a View of the adjustable angle-block, one section thereof being removed and illustrating the manner of arranging the latchbolts to prevent the adjustment of this block being altered by unauthorized persons.

In carrying out my invention as here em bodied, A represents the tray, adapted to receive the cards 13, which may have printed.

thereon lists, data, statistics, records, ac

countings, or other desirable matter indexed and arranged according to the subject-matter contained thereon, and this tray is preferably adaptedto pass Within a cabinet after the manner of a drawer, and the usual are rangement is to have a number of these trays combined in a cabinet.

, The locking-rods O and D lie parallel with each'other and are connected at each end, so as to form journals E and F, fitted to revolve in the ends of the tray. ,A handle G is secured upon the outer end of the locking-rods and forms a convenient means for revolving these rods when occasion requires. A spring H is coiled about the journal F and has one end attached thereto, while the opposite end is attached to the tray, thus giving these rods a tendency to revolve in one direction, so that when they are revolved in a reverse direction and released they will be automatically returned to their normal position, a suitable stop I serving to prevent an overthrow of these rods by the projection J, formed upon the journal coming in contact therewith, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. A retaining-pawl K is pivoted at L, the nose of which is adapted to enter into engagement with the projection J when the locking-rods are revolved to a vertical position and, as is obvious, so long as this pawl remains in engagement with the projection these rods will be retained in said position; but by the release of the pawl the spring will return the rods to their normally-horizontal position. The pawl K is provided with an extension M, terminating in a head N,

which projects slightly through the bottom of the tray, the object being to facilitate the re lease of. the pawl when occasion may require by simply placing a finger beneath the front edge of the tray and pressing this extension upward. A further object of this extension is to automatically trip the locking-rods when the tray is slid within the cabinet, which is effected by a post 0, over which the head N rides at the proper point, thus bringing about the desired results.

rod, and when these rods are turned to their horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 4, the cards will be locked against withdrawal. To remove any of the cards, it will therefore be only necessary to again bring the lockingrods to a vertical position by the proper Inanipulation of the handle G, when one or all of the cards may be lifted from the tray.

An angle-block Q is secured in the front end of the tray and serves to cover the operating mechanism of the locking-rods and also to give the cards an angle which will facilitate the observation of the card desired. An adjustable angle-block R is also fitted within the tray, so as to slide longitudinally thereof, and this block is preferably composed of two sections, the front section having the angle formed thereon, while the rear section B is secured thereto in any suitable manner, so as to inclose the latch-bolts S, the horizontal portions of which project beyond the edges of the angle-block, so as to engage with the notches or holes T, formed in the strips T, secured within the sides of the tray, by which arrangement the angle-block may be held in any desired adjustment. The latch-bolts are normally forced outward by the spring U, and their vertical portions extend above the upper edge of the angle-block and form a convenient means for retracting the bolts when occasion requires.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that cards may be readily placed within the'tray and secured against accidental displacement, and should the operator forget to relock the cards when manipulating the same they will be automatically relocked by sliding the tray within the cabinet, when security against the removal of the cards by unauthorized persons is provided by means of the lock V, which is secured upon the inside of the tray and so arranged that its bolt W when projected outward will stand in the path of the lug X, which projects from the journal of the locking-rods, and thus prevents the revolving of said locking-rods from their horizontal position, and this look may be of any well-known or convenient construction, as the mechanism thereof is immaterial, so long as it carries a bolt which may be brought into the path of the projection X. By this arrangement it will be necessary in the removal of the cards to be provided with a key fitting the lock, and this is often very advantageous.

When it is not desired that unauthorized persons should tamper with the adjustment of the file, the arrangement shown in Fig. 8

may be used, in which the latch-bolts S do not project above the upper edge of the angleblock R, but the upper ends thereof are protected from access by an escutcheon-plate Y, and these ends have threaded holes therein for the reception of the shank of the thumbscrews Z, so that when these screws are removed the bolts cannot be manipulated, but are readily put under the control of the opera tor by the insertion of said screws.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1. In a device of the character described, a box, two rods arranged parallel with each other, having their ends secured together and journaled within the box, projections formed with the rods, a pin extending from the box into engagement with one of the projections, and a lock secured to the box the bolt of which is adapted to engage the other of said projections, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Two rods arranged parallel with each other and secured together at their ends, said rods being journaled within a file tray, a spring adapted to return the rods to their normal position, a projection formed with the rods, a pawl adapted to engage with said projection to hold the rods against the action of the spring, and means for automatically disengaging the pawl, as shown and described.

3. In combination, a file-tray, two rods arranged parallel with each other and connected together at their ends and journaled within said tray, a'spring so arranged as to return the rods to their normal position when released, a projection extending from the rods, a pawl adapted to engage with said projection, an extension formed with the pawl for manipulating the same, a second projection extending from the rods, and a lock adapted to work in conjunction with the last-named projection for preventing the revolving of the rods, as specified.

4. In a file-tray, an adjustable angle-block having right angular bolts fitted therein, springs forcing said bolts apart, an escutoheon-plate secured over the ends of the bolts, and thumb-screws passed through a slot in the escutcheon-plate into the ends of the bolts, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto af fixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HUGH HAMILTON.

" Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. DRISOOLL, JAMES M. E. OGRADY. 

